like martin luther king junior, whose birth that we also celebrated yesterday. stepn even when you don't see the whole staircase, we have faith that the members of the 113tho congress will realize the promise of prosperity. ill be chd not by our divisions but by renewed cooperation and compromise. i urge every woman and man fortunate enough serve in this chamber to remember it is possible to hold fast to your principles while making compromises necessary to move our country forward. democrats will hold fast to the guiding principle that a strong middle class and an opportunity for every american to enter the middle class is the key to this nation's success. democrats will stand strong. strong with a standard of balance and will remain resolute in pursuit of fairness for all americans regardless of where they were born, regardless of their religion or their sexual orientation. those principles will direct our course as we introduce our first ten bills today, a tradition we've had in the united states senate. that is the majority party introduces the first ten bil